Councillor and magistrate fined £300 for firearms offence

A NORTH Somerset councillor and magistrate has been fined £300 for possessing ammunition without a certificate.

Conservative councillor Tim Marter – also a former police officer – admitted a charge of possessing ammunition when he appeared before Swindon Crown Court earlier this month.

The 48-year-old, who represents Banwell and Winscombe on North Somerset Council, said he was given the ammunition by a family member and had intended to dispose of it with an official firearms dealer.

The ammunition was seized at Mr Marter's home by police in December. At a sentencing hearing at Swindon Crown Court today (Friday) Mr Marter was fined £300, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £30,